This is one of Godard's best early films. As Roger Ebert says, "we know the charactes, but not that well, we understand something because of the movie, but we are not sure exactly what." I was thoroughly entranced by the scenes at the cafes, the music soundtrack, and the lives of each of the characters. I don't know exactly what Godard wanted the audience to understand, but I think that's intentional. He goes against the classical film structure to present the lives of Parisian youth. He presents us with young people who strive for success, for revolution, but live pointless lives that seem to lead only back to the cafe.
The film is shot in a realist visual style with a linear narrative. Yet the narrative is not straight forward, as in Godard's most well known film Breathless. Unlike Breathless, Masculin Feminin has no plot structure. The major theme that holds it together is the relationship between the boy and the girl. Otherwise it is very free form.
I was very pleased for watching this film. Although it was not as momentous as Breathless, the energy infused by the soundtrack is hard to resist. It is one of the best Art Cinema productions of the 1960s.
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